Windows Vocabulary
| Active Window | The application or window at the front (foreground) on the monitor.1 It is designated by a colored Title Bar. |
| Application | A program in which you do your work.1 Also known as Programs. |
| Close | The option that removes a window from your computer screen.2 It usually stops a program, or part of a program, from running. |
| Command | The act of giving instruction to your computer either by menu choice or keystroke.1 |
| Cursor | The pointer, usually arrow or cross shaped, which is controlled by the mouse.1 A visual representation on the screen that allows the user to specify where they want text to be placed; the object used to point, click, drag, and drop items on the operating system.4 |
| Desktop | A system of organization of icons on a screen.4 A display area that represents the kinds of objects one might find on a real desktop: documents, phone book, telephone, reference sources, writing & drawing tools, project folders.8 |
| Graphic | A digitized version of photograph, or other type of picture that is displayed on a computer display.4 |
| GUI | Graphical User Interface; uses windos, icons, and menus to carry out commands such as opening files, delete files, move files, etc. They are generally operated by the keyboard and mouse.4 |
| Icon | A graphic symbol for an application, file, or folder.1 |
| Keyboard Shortcut | A combination of keystrokes that performs some function otherwise found in a pulldown menu.1 |
| Maximize | Option available for most windows in a GUI that allows a user to enlarge a window to its largest size, commonly the full display area of the monitor or screen.4 |
| Menu | A list of program commands listed by topic.1 |
| Menu Bar | The horizontal bar across the top of the window that lists the menus.1 |
| Minimize | Action available in all GUI operating systems that allows a user to hide a window and keep the application running.4 The window can be accessed through its Task Bar button. |
| Operating System | The system software that controls the computer.1 It allows you to manage and organize computer documents and to run programs.2 It enables the computer hardware to communicate and operate with the computer software.4 |
| Program | Allows you to perform tasks on a computer. To use files, a program opens them.2 Also known as Applications. |
| Scroll Bar | A bar at the bottom or right side of the window that contains the scroll box and allows scrolling.1 It allows a user to move the window viewing area up, down, left, or right.4 |
| Shortcut | A link that points to a program. It allows users to create links to their programs in any folders, Start bar, Taskbar, Desktop, or other locations designated by the user. It is commonly identified by a small arrow in the bottom corner of the icon and are files that end with a file extension of .lnk.4 |
| Shut Down | The command from the Start Menu that shuts down the computer safely.1 Term used to describe the process of closing all software programs in preparation to turn off a computer's power. The operating system is generally the last program to be closed and it is highly recommended that all computers properly shut down before being turned off to help prevent data corruption.4 |
| Start Menu | The menu, accessible from the Taskbar, that allows the user to open programs, commands, and files within the Operating System. |
| Task Bar | A bar commonly located at the bottom of the screen that displays the programs that are currently running. This bar also displays the time, systray, Start Menu, and the Quick Launch.4 |
| Title Bar | The horizontal bar at the top of a window which has the name of the file or folder it represents.1 |
| Tool Bar | A bar, usually near the top of a window, that displays buttons with icons to provide quick access to certain functions within that program.6 |
| Upgrade | A term used to describe updating a software program or adding a new hardware.4 |
| User Friendly | Term used to describe a computer software program or hardware device that has been designed to be easy for all users to use without much difficulty.4 |
| Windows | Also known as Win. An operating environment created by Microsoft that provides an interface knows as GUI for the IBM compatible computers. It eliminations the need for a user to have to type each command at a command line like MS-DOS by using a mouse to navigate through drop-down menus, dialog boxes, buttons, tabs, and icons.4 |
References:
by: Casey Jo Burrus
Last Updated:
December 28, 2013
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